In American history, one
Congressman was re-elected from jail
Immigrant
Orphan
Soldier
Statesman
Founder of Fairhaven, Vt.
Publisher of
The Scourge of Aristocracy
The Lyon of Vermont
The public are here presented Matthew Lyon's musical entitled: Spit'n Lyon, an unsung soldier's song
Nature has left this tincture in the blood,
that all men would be tyrants if they could;
if they forbear their neighbors to devour,
tis not for want of will,
but want of power.-
-De-Foe. Jure Divino.
Ivory Tower
Act2
Beleaguered but defiant Lyon, in jail, sings to President Adams
Perhaps the Gentlemen
Act 2
Beulah Lyon campaigns for her imprisoned husband. She is flanked by two Green Mountain Boys.
Beulah Lyon Portrayed by Tella
This might Not Work
The election of 1800 in which Lyon cast the tie-breaking vote giving us President Jefferson
Alien & Sedition Acts
Congressman Lyon is shackled as President Adams signs the unconstitutional Alien & Sedition Acts.
President Adams portrayed by
Milton Busker miltonbusker.com
Hold My Tea
Triangulation of power.
Haldimand Intrugue.
King George portrayed by Greg Goldman
Lyon portrayed by John Daly
Sam portrayed by Tellamusic
Marshall Fitch
Senator Mason arrives to attempt to pay Lyon's bail.
Senator Mason portrayed by John Daly
Marshall Fitch portrayed by Greg Goldman
Beulah Lyon portrayed by Tellamusic
Who was the Lyon of Vermont?
History
Imprisoned for violating the Alien Sedition act; which gave President Adams the right to bar or expel immigrants and incarcerate those who published against the administration
Repeats
Lyon's letter published accuses Adams of needing 'foolish adulation' and 'ridiculous pomp'
Four Months in in jail, Oct-Feb.
Re-elected by a 2-1 margin. A parade 12 miles long follows the Lyon of Vermont to Philidelphia.
Forgotten
"One who deserved a monument, and had it in the hearts of every true man, and who stood up... against power and corruption, yet this man was entitled to no thanks from those who came after him..."
-Waddy Thompson
Immigrant, Orphan, Soldier, Stateman
Born in county Wicklow, Ireland 1750, Matthew Lyon emigrated to the New World a teenage orphan and was sold into indentured servitude in CT. After working and bartering for his freedom, Lyon moved to the Hampshire Grants with Ethan Allen & Mary Hosford. Enlisting as a Private, he served in all the major local Revolutionary War battles including Ticonderoga, Montgomery’s army and Saratoga. Through the course of his honorable service he was promoted to Adjunct Paymaster to General Seth Warner.
Founder of Fairhaven Vermont, publisher of the Scourge of Aristocracy, Congressman Matthew Lyon was imprisoned for violating the Alien Sedition act; which had given the President unconstitutional authority to expel or refuse immigrants and imprison those who published against the administration. Lyon won re-election, by a 2 to 1 margin, while serving a four month jail sentence in Vergennes Vermont.
Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Mason, Apollo Austin, the Green Mountain Boys, and the citizens in town ALL tried to pay his $1,060.96 bail but Lyon and his 2nd wife Beulah refused the money.
The ‘Lyon of Vermont’ effectively ended the Federalist Party when casting the tie-breaking vote for President Jefferson during the election of 1800, which had gone to the Congress after the electoral college failed.
The Album Arc
Act 1.
from birth to congress
We Begin
n/a
Thomas Rowley, Bard of the Green Mountain Boys, plays an antique pump organ. He is joined by a modern band.
Ireland 1750
n/a
Born in county Wicklow, Ireland, 1749, young Matthew may have witnessed his father's execution.
Females of History
n/a
Matthew's mother sends her 12 year-old son to the new world, never to see him again.
Sold for Sweat
n/a
Matthew is sold into indentured servitude in CT. His neighbor is Jeffrey Brace (The Blind African Slave).
Who am I?
n/a
Young orphan Lyon travels to Vermont with Ethan Allen. Duet with his mother, now but a memory.
The King Owns This Tree
n/a
Colonial real estate was rather one sided. His Royal Highness owned all trees suitable for constructing his Armada.
Tea Time in Beantown
n/a
The Revolutionary War. The King consults his council, while riots occur in Boston.
Catamount
n/a
In the Catamount Tavern the Green Mountain Boys toast to democratic ideals; worth fighting and dying for.
Hold My Tea
n/a
Triangulation of power. King George and young "Uncle" Sam parlay with Vermont for statehood recognition.
Carrion Crow
n/a
Lyon returns to the fields of battle to collect metal, melts swords to plowshares.
Porcupine Press
n/a
Yellow press/fake news from William Cobbett, aka Peter Porcupine. Accusations of the "wooden sword."
Rags
n/a
The Scourge of Aristocracy, rag shortage, advent of 'pulp based paper' to refute Adams
Here Come the Lawyers
n/a
Finally gaining statehood, Vermont contends with an influx of flat-landers.
Mary
n/a
Matthew's first wife, Mary Hosford, passes away. She has a dying wish.
Co-equal Branches
n/a
Lyon's first speech to congress was to refuse to attend Adams in an obsequious manner.
Six Months
n/a
On the floor of Congress, Lyon chastises Griswold, claiming Federalists are lying to their constituents.
Wooden Sword
n/a
Griswold taunts Lyon. Lyon tries to ignore him. Lyon spits in Griswold's face. Griswold attacks with hickory cane.
Act 2.
from congress to jail and back again
Alien & Sedition Acts
free
Lyrics nearly verbatim the actual sedition law. Lyon, a sitting congressman, is imprisoned.
Perhaps the Gentlemen
free
Lyon's 2nd wife Beulah campaigns while Lyon is in jail. Two colonial guards accompany her.
Ivory Tower
free
Lyon defiant from jail.
Who Am I (Reprise)
n/a
Lyon, still imprisoned, is a broken man.
Freedom is the Child
n/a
Lyon has a vision of a woman pregnant with Freedom.
Marshall Fitch
n/a
Senator Mason of Virginia arrives in Vergennes to try and pay Lyon's bail.
Cavalcade
n/a
Matthew hears his supporters outside his cell.
The Release
n/a
The Parade leaves Vergennes Vt to Philadelphia.
Tree of Democracy
n/a
Democracy takes root on route to Philadelphia
Lorraine
n/a
In the last year of his life, Ethan Allen mourns the loss of his daughter Lorraine, in the company of Lyon's daughter Lorraine.
Dream of Democracy
n/a
Lyon reaches Philadelphia with a renewed sense of purpose
Gotta Kettle?
n/a
American forges come on line. The seeds of the industrial revolution are sown.
This Might Not Work
free
Election of 1800. Lyon casts tie-breaking vote for Thomas Jefferson, then leaves Vermont.
Epilogue (Double-Edged Wooden Sword)
n/a
Onto the battlefield with iron word and wooden sword.